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Lawson set to battle rising star Lillard

Nuggets go for fourth straight win tonight in Portland

By Benjamin Hochman The Denver Post

Posted:
12/19/2012 10:44:42 PM MST

DENVER -- Casually mention to fans of the Southeastern Conference or the English Premier League that they're not in the best conference/league in the nation/world, and you'll perhaps get a bourbon/Boddingtons poured in your face.

But there isn't much division pride in the NBA. Fervent fans aren't shouting: "Don't mess with the Atlantic, bro!"

Perhaps it has to do with the balanced schedule. Or perhaps it has to do with the fact that the great point guard debate hasn't begun.

So let's do this.

Now, basing it strictly on talent, perhaps the Pacific Division (Chris Paul-Steve Nash-Stephen Curry) is the strongest (or the aforementioned Atlantic with Rajon Rondo-Deron Williams-Jrue Holiday). But in regard to pure entertainment, it's tough to top the Nuggets' Northwest Division, which features possibly the NBA rookie of the year, arguably the fastest dude in the league, a magician and an all-star who scored 43 points in an NBA Finals game. And whomever the Jazz has.

Today in Portland, rookie Damian Lillard will finally face the Nuggets' Ty Lawson, who hears The Road Runner's "meep meep" sound when he scores layups at the Pepsi Center.

"I'm excited to play him. I've been looking forward to it the whole season," the 25-year-old Lawson said of Lillard. "He's very aggressive. He's got a nice smooth shot. I knew he'd be good player coming into the league, just by seeing the clips of him."

Little Lillard is unafraid.

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The 6-foot-3, 195-pound guard out of Weber State slithers through defenses and hoists jumpers with confidence, notably his winning 3-pointer recently against New Orleans. He is averaging 18.8 points and 6.3 assists.

Perhaps his best game was against the Spurs, whom Denver beat Tuesday night. Lillard led his team with 29 points on 50 percent shooting, while also contributing seven rebounds and six assists. He's only 22 years old.

"I can't deny that Lillard was pretty impressive in the San Antonio game," said Nuggets coach George Karl, whose team is 14-12. "He has an incredible pick-and-roll mentality already for a very young player."

Russell Westbrook, meanwhile, is nasty, gnarly. The Thunder's point guard (24 years old) is at it again, ranking eighth in the league in scoring (22.8 points), fifth in assists (8.8) and second in plus-minus rating (plus-8.7).

"He turns it over, but he's a winner, he's courageous," Karl said. "He's learning, he wants to be the best. His personality is very driven. And it helps that he's playing with probably the second-best player in basketball (Kevin Durant)."

Minnesota's magician, 22-year-old Ricky Rubio, has returned from a knee injury and is slowly returning to his role as a poor man's Pete Maravich. Before Rubio's injury last season, the rookie was averaging 8.2 assists.

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